Ornamental molded figure



Jan. 12, 1937. H p, C, KEULS 2,067,766

ORNAMENTAL MOLDED FIGURE Filed Feb. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l W gNVENTOR.

AVMWV *w ATTORNEY' Jan. 12, 1937. H. P. c. KEULs 2,057,756

ORNAMENTAL MOLDED FIGURE Filed Feb. 1s, 1 956 2 sheets-sheet 2 1:2553' @Lgf ATToRNEYf'J Patented Jan. 12, 1937 iin-iran STATES:

PATENT OFFICE! oRNArmNTAL. MOLDED FIGURE Henry P. C. Keuls, New York, N. Y. h 4 Application., February 18, 1936-, Sernin-@tensor f 2' Claims.

'I'his` invention. relates to ornamental molded gures hollowed-out to receive abottle or other similar container, particularly for beverages.

In many instances, it. is desirable to have liquid refreshments on display or handy for serving, but as the commercial bottles or containersiinwhich they are sold are rather unsightly, the custom is usually followed of transferring the. beverage to some other container more` ornamental. in design. This inconvenience, coupled with thev fact: that the identity of the brand` may be forgotten, makes the practice not quite as-satisfactory as it: might be. Then, too, in the caseof alcoholic-beverages, it is quite illegal to transfer the beverage from one bottle to another. The law requires that the beverage be dispensed from its original container.

In accordance with the present invention, an ornamental molded figure is provided which can be attractively displayed, and which is hollowedout to receive the commercial container in which the beverage is sold and with the label in its original condition. While not in use the container is thus completely hidden from view, whereas when the beverage is served the knowledge of its particular brand is at once available. In addition the inconvenience of transferring the beverage from one container to another is obviated.

The design of the molded figure is, in most cases, dictated by the shape of the hollowed-out portion in order that the walls of the ornamental gure may be made substantially uniform in thickness, thus rendering the article light in weight and economical to manufacture. Above the base, the iigure is formed in two parts, in the present embodiment the split occurring in a horizontal plane substantially at the center of the iigure, so that the upper portion thereof may be separated from the lower portion to give access to the interior for the removal and replacement of the bottle. The lower portion which is hollowedout to receive the larger body portion of the bottle, if desired, may be equipped `with resilient means capable of conforming to bottles of different sizes and shapes, and which serve also to aline the upper portion or neck of the bottle with the upper smaller hollowed-out portion of the' gure.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a face view of an ornamental figure embodying .the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the ornamental gure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a. side View of the ornamental figure shown inFig. 1, vwith the upperv portion removed to expose the bottle; and

Fig.. is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-i5of Fig. 3'.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, 5 thereis provided an ornamental gure molded in two parts A and B, the'lower part A being hollowedeout to receivethelarger or body portion of a bottle C and formed integral with a base portion A1 on which the bottle rests when in the orna- 10 mental figure. The upper portion B ofthe ngure likewise is hollowed-out .to receive thev bottle neck and for this reason the dimensions of the` upper hollowed-out portioni are' substantially smaller than those of the lower portion. 15

In the lower hollowed-out portion A of the figure, there are provided longitudinal leaf springs a fastened at their upper ends, as by spot-welding, to a ring a1 fitted and secured to the inner wall of the lower portion A of the figure. The ring a1 20 extends above the edge of the portion A and fits within the upper portion B of the figure when the latter is in place. The leaf springs a., at their lower ends, are bent inwardly beneath a circular plate a2 which is arranged in slight spaced rela- 25 tion with the base of the gure to give a degree of movement sucient to provide for the flexing of the springs as the bottle is inserted in place. This arrangement not only holds the bottle firmly in place and alines the neck portion centrally with the upper smaller hollowed-out portion, but in addition serves as a shock absorber to prevent breakage of the bottle when the latter is inserted in place.

It is desirable that the walls of the figure be molded to substantially the same thickness throughout in order to save material and to make the figure as light as possible. It will be seen therefore, that the shape of the interior hollowedout portion of the gure at once dictates the character of the exterior design and, by way of illustration, a Janus-faced statuette of a man has been depicted, the trunk portion of which will house the large body portion of the bottle, and the head portion the neck of the bottle. The smaller head portion of the gure also permits it to be readily ygrasped so that the upper portion of the figure can be removed, exposing the neck of the bottle by which the same may be readily removed from and replaced in the lower portion of the figure.

Since, in the present embodiment, the upper portion B is entirely removable from the lower portion A, means in the nature of a dowel pin a3 has been provided on the upper edge of the low- 55 er portion of the ligure and which is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding recess b formed in the lower edge of the upper portion of the figure, to insure that the parts are properly located when fitted together to maintain the continuity of design.

The design of the ornament is further selected with the idea of providing some portion thereof that will efface or render diicult of discernment,

time serves as a handsome ornament for purposes of display.

' In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously, many variations and modications mayv be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It

is to be understood therefore, vthat the invention is not limited to any specic form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specied in the appended claims.

Having lthus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising a lower integral portion hollowed-out to receive the body portion of a bottle, an upper integral portion arranged to iit on the lower portion and holloWed-out to receive the upper or neck portion of the bottle, said portions when fitted together completely hiding the bottle from View, means extending beyond the edge of one of the portions and fitting within the other portion for holding said portions against lateral displacement and including a cylindrical element secured to the innerwall of the lower portion, and means for holding the bottle in place in said lower portion, said means including a plurality of longitudinal inwardly bowed leaf springs fastened at their upper ends to said cylindrical element and adapted resiliently to engage the lower body portion of the bottle so as securely to hold it in place.

2. An article of manufacture, comprising a lower integral potion hollowed-out to receive the body portion of a bottle, an upper integral portion arranged to t on the lower portion and hollowed-out to receive the upper or neck portion of per ends to said ring and adapted resiliently to engage the lower body portion of the bottle so as securely to hold it in'place.

HENRY P. C. KEULS. 

